James Joseph Higgins

Fr James Joseph Higgins SMA, MFR (8 February 1924 – 3 April 2016) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest, teacher and missionary of the Society of African Missions (SMA). In recognition of his contributions to education, he was awarded the Nigerian national honour Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 1982 by President Sheju Shagari. He also received the papal honour, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his service to the Catholic Church.^{[1][3][4][5][6]}

The Very Reverend Father James Joseph Higgins SMA, MFR
Born	8 February 1924[1][2] Collooney, County Sligo, Ireland
Died	3 April 2016 (aged 92) [1][3] Cork, Ireland
Alma mater	University College Galway SMA Major Seminary, Dromantine
Occupation(s)	Missionary priest, educator, author
Organisation	Society of African Missions (SMA)
Awards	Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

It has been reported that upon his passing in 2016 Fr. James Joseph Higgins was the longest-serving Irish missionary in the SMA with "60 years of unbroken missionary service" in Nigeria.^[3][4][1]

Early life and education

James (Jim) Higgins was born in Collooney, County Sligo, Ireland, the youngest child of Alphonsus and Mary (née Harte). After the death of his mother when he was six months old, he was raised by his father.

He attended Camphill National School and, in 1937, entered the SMA Sacred Heart College in Ballinafad, later transferring to SMA College in Wilton, Cork. In 1943, he began his novitiate at the African Missions College in Cloughballymore and earned a BA from University College Galway. He completed theological studies at the SMA Major Seminary in Dromantine, County Down, and was ordained on 14 June 1949 at St. Colman's Cathedral, Newry.^[3][1][4]

Missionary work

Fr. James Joseph Higgins, SMA, MFR, arrived in Nigeria on 5 December 1950, where he gave "60 years of unbroken missionary service"^[4] serving in both educational and pastoral capacities.^[3][1] He first arrived by boat from Liverpool to Lagos—a 14-day journey that he later described as a challenging experience. He made the journey again in 1955, before air travel became more common. His early mission focused on Catholic education, particularly in the Mid-Western region, contributing to teacher training and youth outreach programmes.^[5]

He held teaching and leadership positions in several institutions:

• St. Thomas’ Teacher Training College, Ibusa (1951–1956) – teaching post
• Assumption Teacher Training College, Uzairue (1956–1966) – principal
• St. John Bosco’s Grammar School, Ubiaja (1966–1973) – secondary education
• St. Joseph’s Teacher Training College, Ozoro (1973–1981) – principal

In Bishop Kelly of Western Nigeria (2006), Fr Higgins is described as "one of the foremost teachers and Principals of the era with a superb record of fifty-five years of service in Nigeria’s Mid-West region".^[7]

Alongside his academic responsibilities, Higgins participated in pastoral outreach, travelling to remote outstations and communities during weekends and holidays to administer sacraments and support the growing Catholic population.^[1][4]

From 1981 to 1994, he served as parish priest at St. Patrick’s Church, Sapele, during a time of diocesan transition.^[1] His tenure saw the establishment of 48 outstations, several of which later became independent parishes.^[8] He was later assigned to the SMA Parish at Cable Point, Asaba (1994–2000), before briefly retiring to SMA House, Uromi (2000–2007), where he authored two books.^[4] Despite health challenges, Higgins returned to Asaba (2007–2010) to assist in parish duties before retiring permanently to County Cork.

In addition to parish and educational work, he held leadership positions within the Society of African Missions, serving as society superior in Warri (1983–1989) and representing the Irish Province at SMA Assemblies in 1973 and 1983.^[1][5][4]

Fr. James Higgins is featured in Irish missionaries in Nigeria: A Road Less Travelled: Tales of the Irish Missionaries(2011)^[9] and Beyond Faith and Adventure: Irish Missionaries in Nigeria Tell Their Extraordinary Story.^[10] These books document the experiences of Irish missionaries and feature Higgins as a significant figure within the Irish missionary community in Nigeria, reflecting his impact on the region’s religious and educational development.^{[original research?]}

Higgins' reflections and written contributions have been acknowledged in official Society of African Missions (SMA) publications, diocesan records and academic literature. His accounts in Kindling the Fire (2003) have been quoted in obituaries for fellow SMA members, and he is cited in his capacity as an authoritative figure within the Church.^{[11][12][13][14][15]} Former colleagues and clergy have credited him as a formative influence on their spiritual and vocational development.^[8][16]

Fr. James Higgins was among the missionaries credited in diocesan records with assisting in the establishment of the Diocese of Warri, which was created by Pope Paul VI on 10 March 1964 from the former Benin Diocese. He worked alongside others to support Bishop Lucas Nwaezeapu, the first bishop of Warri, in early evangelisation efforts and in strengthening the foundation of the newly formed diocese.^[17]

In an article in the Daily Sun Higgins stated that he often reflected on his life, describing his vocation as both a calling and a source of fulfillment. Despite personal challenges, including the early death of his parents, he has found joy and purpose in his work. He remained content with his life’s work and continueed to find happiness in his service.^[18]

Honours

• Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) (1982): For services to education.^{[19][3][4][20]}
• Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross for the Church and Pontiff) (2009): Awarded by Pope Benedict XVI for meritorious service in the Diocese of Warri.^[1][4]

Publications

Works

Higgins authored several works focused on the missionary activities of the Society of African Missions (SMA) and the development of the Catholic Church in Nigeria's Mid-West region. His publications include:

• Irish Missionaries in a Pagan Land in the December 1955 issue of the African Missionary Magazine.^[21]

• Fifty Years a-growing (2000) – A reflection marking his fifty years of missionary service in Nigeria.^[22]

• Kindling the Fire: SMA Missions in Mid-West Nigeria, 1884–2003 (2003) – A collection of biographical sketches and historical accounts of SMA missionaries. ISBN 9781551526.ISBN 9781551526^[23]

• The Pilgrim Soul in Me (2004): An autobiographical reflection on Higgins' missionary work. ISBN 9781551763^[24]

• History of the Church in Mid-West Nigeria (2006) – An online article documenting the growth of the Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Mid-West region through SMA efforts.^[25]

Reception

Higgins' writings, including his 2003 Kindling the Fire (a collection of biographical sketches and historical accounts documenting the missionary activities) have been cited in academic and religious studies on missionary activity and the history of Catholicism in Nigeria. Michael O'Shea, in Bishop Kelly of Western Nigeria (2006), described Kindling the Fire as a "mine of information," noting its detailed account of missionary life in Nigeria.^[26]

Professor Uyilawa Usuanlele of SUNY Oswego references the work in multiple publications to varying degrees,^[27][28] including in his 2019 article "The 1951–52 Benin City Catholic Church Crisis: Irish Catholic Clergy versus African Nationalism", published in the Journal of Religion in Africa.^[29] Usuanlele uses Higgins' accounts as a primary historical source on the role of Irish missionaries in Nigeria.

S. I. Francis Rozario, SMA, draws extensively on Higgins’ scholarship in multiple works documenting the legacy of the Society of African Missions (SMA) in Nigeria. In You Filled Our Cup (2005), Rozario references Kindling the Fire (2003) to support his narrative of the early evangelisation efforts and missionary challenges.^[30] He further cites Higgins' work in Nigerian Christianity and the Society of African Missions: History, Strategies and Challenges (2012), using it to trace the development of Catholic structures in the Mid-West region and to underscore the role of SMA missionaries in fostering local leadership and indigenisation.^[31]

In The God of Our Ancestors: An Approach to Etsako Contextual Theology (2005), Cornelius Omonokhua references Higgins' insights in the context of theological engagement between the Church and traditional beliefs in Nigeria.^[32]

Additionally, Pathfinders for Christianity in Northern Nigeria: The CMS Mission and its Impact (2022) cites Higgins’ article History of the Church in Mid-West Nigeria as part of broader scholarly discussions on missionary influence and education in the region.^[33]

Death

Higgins died on 3 April 2016 at the SMA House on Blackrock Road, Cork, aged 92.^[6][34] A commemorative Mass was held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sapele on 11 August 2016, attended by clergy and parishioners from the Diocese of Warri.^[3][4]